Undrafted Vikings rookie inherits Jared Allen's No. 69

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Rakim Cox during drills on the second day of training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato on Saturday, July 26, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

MANKATO, Minn. -- Rakim Cox, an undrafted Vikings rookie free agent, didn't even realize what number he was wearing when training camp started Friday. Then somebody told him.

Cox looked down at his jersey.

"I didn't even notice that I had on No. 69,'' said the defensive end.

No. 69, of course, had belonged the previous six years to star Minnesota defensive end Jared Allen. But Allen left as a free agent last spring to sign with Chicago.

The Vikings didn't waste any time handing out Allen's old number. They actually first had given it in the spring to defensive end Spencer Nealy, who wore No. 99 last season.

Nealy, though, was released Wednesday. So Cox, who had worn No. 68, the same as tackle Kevin Murphy, had No. 69 put in his locker just before Friday's first practice. He put it on without initially realizing his number had been changed.

Cox became the first Minnesota player since Allen to don No. 69 in front of fans. He found it a bit odd looking into the stands at Minnesota State Mankato and seeing dozens of fans wearing No. 69 jerseys that had been bought by Allen fans.

"He's a great player,'' said Cox, 23, who played at Villanova. "I watched him growing up, so I guess it's kind of a blessing. I guess it can help me become more of a better player like him. I know they're wearing it for him, but it is kind of cool to see (all the fans wearing No. 69 jerseys in the stands).''

Cox, a long shot to make the team, doesn't even have his name yet of the back of his No. 69. He's hoping that will come in a few days.

Cox isn't the only player at Vikings training camp stirring up memories by donning the number of a recently departed star. Rookie defensive tackle Shamar Stephen was handed No. 93 shortly after being drafted in May, which is what defensive tackle Kevin Williams had worn the previous 11 seasons before joining Seattle as a free agent.

"They just assigned that number to me,'' said Stephen, a seventh-round pick from Connecticut who figures to make the team.

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Shamar Stephen during drills on the second day of training camp at Minnesota State University in Mankato on Saturday, July 26, 2014. (Pioneer Press: John Autey)

"I'm definitely excited to wear that number because (Williams had it), and I'm glad that I got it.''

Williams has played in six career Pro Bowls to five for Allen, four with Minnesota. But Allen always was the more popular player, so don't count on seeing too many Williams No. 93 jerseys at training camp.

Both Allen and Williams are good bets to one day be inducted into the Vikings' Ring of Honor. As for having a jersey retired, neither was at that level.

The Vikings have retired just six numbers. Five belonged to legends Fran Tarkenton (10), Mick Tingelhoff (53), Jim Marshall (70), Cris Carter (80) and Alan Page (88) and one to Korey Stringer (77), who died in 2001 in the prime of his career.

Eliminate those numbers and consider there are 90 players on Minnesota's camp roster, so there aren't many numbers that don't get used. That's why the Vikings wasted no time issuing Nos. 69 and 93.

"I guess they're not going to (retire No. 69) unless I can make it great,'' Cox quipped.